Summary
This position serves as the Researcher Experience Section Head, located in the Researcher Experience Section, of the Researcher Engagement and General Collections Division, General and International Collections Directorate, Researcher and Collections Services.
The position description number for this position is 450811.
This is a supervisory, non-bargaining unit position.
MLS or equivalent is preferred, not required.
This job is open to
Clarification from the agency
Anyone may apply - By law, employment at most U.S. Government agencies, including the Library of Congress, is limited to U.S. citizens. However, non-citizens may be hired, provided that other legal requirements are met and the Library determines there are no qualified U.S. citizens available for the position.
Duties
The Section Head for Researcher Experience is an innovative, user-focused and outcomes-based senior manager responsible for helping shape and implement strategic priorities around the research experience, including service optimization, assessment demonstrating service impact and value, and alignment of resources to support the needs of current, emerging, and potential users. The Section Head will strategize research and reference services and directions for the general collections, and will contribute to research services across the Library’s complex system. Covering traditional and emerging areas of demand, onsite and online, the Section Head is responsible for supervising librarians who provide research orientations, reference interviews, instruction, and public outreach. In developing user-centered approaches, the Section Head builds relationships, leads staff, fosters collaboration with partners across and outside the Library, and cultivates an environment of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
The Head of Researcher Experience section is responsible for the daily operation of the onsite and online researcher services and the administration of research and reference services to Library patrons and to researchers who are assigned research facilities at the Library of Congress. The users include Members of Congress and their staff, librarians, scholars, representatives of government agencies, academic institutions, the press, publishers, and nonprofit organizations, and the public. Ensures onsite researcher support will be provided at all hours the Library is open in the Main Reading Room in the Jefferson building and the Science and Business Reading Room in the Adams building. This includes researcher referrals to other sections and divisions when appropriate; Chat based reference services at the appropriate hours, as well as the facilitation of chat and email reference questions; and general researcher orientation and outreach both onsite and online, including class-based and web-based instruction in the use of the Library.
The Head provides research and reference services to Congress, government agencies, and researchers. Researcher Engagement and General Collections (REGC) reading rooms serve constituents in person, via email, phone, other electronic communication, and traditional correspondence. RECG reading rooms contain extensive reference collections, and custodial responsibility for microform materials and electronic reference resources in the Microform and Electronic Resources Center (MERC).
The Head collaborates with other section heads and management in REGC on general researcher and reference policy and the use of reference collections in the division’s reading rooms.
Supervises a group of employees performing work up to the GS-13 level. Provides administrative and technical supervision relative to the staff supervised. Plans work to be accomplished by subordinates, set and adjust short-term priorities, and prepare schedules for completion of work; Assigns work to subordinates based on priorities, selective consideration of the difficulty and requirements of assignments, and the capabilities of employees; Observes workers’ performance; demonstrates and conducts work performance critiques. Establishes guidelines and performance expectations for staff and clearly communicates these through the formal employee performance management system.
Serves as an expert in the organization, development, and implementation of multiple projects. Serves as a supervisory project leader, team leader, or chairperson for working groups, task forces, and/or committees, which have been assigned responsibility for projects and programs related to public service and/or researcher experience.
Develops new organizational strategies and maintains currency of existing products in area of expertise. Analyzes major issues in information research and dissemination. Assignments consist of a broad range of technical information activities or require substantial depth of analysis, and typically require solving problems in information access and dissemination in particularly difficult and responsible circumstances. Performs research and analysis to resolve a wide range of highly complex issues. Oversees the results of research, reference, and analysis to appropriately address and resolve a wide range of service delivery issues. Prepares written guidelines and counsels professional staff in the appropriate means of handling specific types of requests. Defines and provides a framework for research activities, priorities, programs, and resources.
Serves as an expert in managing general reference and research methodology to effectively and efficiently provide information services to a diverse and demanding clientele. Officially represents the research experiences to other offices and staff in the Library, as well as to persons, groups, or organizations outside the Library, by means of speeches, publications, and correspondence.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
Conditions of Employment
The Supervisor leads his/her staff toward meeting the Library’s vision, mission, and goals by acting decisively, leveraging diversity and inclusiveness, demonstrating flexibility and resilience, fostering continuous improvement and innovation, and fostering integrity and honesty. To view the Library’s Supervisory Core Competencies click the following link: https://www.loc.gov/static/portals/careers/documents/loc_supervisor_core_competencies.pdf
Library of Congress employees are prohibited from using illegal drugs, including marijuana. The Library is part of the Federal Government and abides by federal law, so regardless of individual state or District of Columbia laws, marijuana use is illegal, considered criminal activity, and can affect your employment at the Library. In addition, past or current drug use and activities (e.g., selling or distributing) may deem you ineligible for employment.
Qualifications
Applicants must have had progressively responsible experience and training sufficient in scope and quality to furnish them with an acceptable level of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the position without more than normal supervision.
Ability to supervise and lead a diverse workforce.**
Ability to analyze, plan, develop and/or execute library research programs and projects.**
Knowledge of the principles, concepts, and techniques of library science related to user services onsite and online.**
Knowledge of assessment and related strategies and technologies for service improvement.
Ability to provide consultation or liaison duties across and outside of an organization.
Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing.
Education
This job does not have an education qualification requirement.
Benefits
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
The Library of Congress evaluates applicants through an applicant questionnaire and a structured interview. Applicants may also be screened for some jobs through licensing, certification, and/or education requirements, a narrative/application review, and/or a preliminary telephone interview.
The knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) that are marked with a double asterisk (**) in the vacancy announcement and the applicant questionnaire are considered the most critical for a position. To be considered for final selection, applicants must demonstrate fully acceptable experience in these designated KSAs in the narrative/application review, preliminary telephone and/or full structured interview.
The various assessment tools listed above are designed to verify or explore applicants' experience, knowledge, and training directly related to the job in order to identify the best qualified applicants for selection.
Are you a veteran? Please indicate the type of veterans' preference you are claiming in your application materials and/or applicant profile and provide the appropriate supporting documentation to validate your claim. Those applying for 5-point preference must submit Member Copy 4 of your DD 214. Those applying for 10-point preference must fill out an SF-15 (click here for the form) and provide the required documentation listed on the back of the form. If required supporting documentation is not attached, Veterans' Preference will not be considered in the application process.
For more information regarding eligibility requirements, please see the Library of Congress Merit Selection Plan, Section 8.5, at: Merit Selection Plan. You may preview questions for this vacancy.
Required Documents
Current or former federal employees must submit their most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50 or equivalent).
Applicants with disabilities may be considered under special hiring procedures and must submit an appropriate certificate of eligibility when applying for this position. The proof or disability/certification may be issued by the State Vocational Rehabilitation Office, Disability Services or Career Services office of the applicant’s college or university, or the Department of Veterans Affairs. The letter must verify that the applicant has a severe disability and must be dated within three years of the date of the application. The program does not accept certification from health care providers. For more information contact the Library's Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity Programs at 202-707-6024 or email spp@loc.gov. FAILURE TO SUBMIT YOUR CERTIFICATION WILL CAUSE YOUR APPLICATION TO NOT BE CONSIDERED UNDER THE SELECTIVE PLACEMENT PROGRAM.
How to Apply
Please carefully follow all instructions under the How to Apply tab to ensure you are considered for the position.
You are required to apply online for this announcement. We are unable to accept mailed or emailed documents. You must complete the entire application process, including submission of all documents BEFORE this announcement closes. To do so, complete the following steps.
Step 1: If you do not already have one, create a resume on USAJOBS. Although you must enter your Social Security Number for USAJOBS, this information will not be provided to the Library of Congress.
Step 2: Review the Job Announcement. We recommend you go to the end of the Qualification and Evaluation section of the job announcement to preview the online questions that you will answer in Step 4. You may wish to customize your USAJOBS resume to ensure that it supports your responses to these questions.
Step 3: Click on the "APPLY ONLINE" button to the right of this announcement. Follow USAJOBS' instructions to access your account and submit your resume. You will be redirected to the Hiring Management website to complete the application process. If this is your first time in Hiring Management, you will be asked to answer questions related to your eligibility for Federal employment. You will be able to update this information and save it to our account for future announcements.
Step 4: Once you have completed the eligibility questions, you will be taken directly to the vacancy application questions. Answer all questions honestly and thoroughly.
Step 5: Hiring Management offers three options that will electronically attach your documentation to your online application once you finish answering the questions in the job announcement.
(1) You may select a document that you have already uploaded to USAJOBS for a previous announcement.
(2) You may electronically upload a document directly from your computer to your application. Be certain to review your complete application for confirmation of the document uploaded and click on "Finished" to be returned to USAJOBS.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you have multiple documents of the same kind, e.g. 2 undergraduate transcripts from different schools or 2 SF-50s, etc., be sure that they are all in the same file on your computer or in your USAJOBS profile before uploading them. If you try uploading them individually, only the last one sent will be visible in our system. If you have any questions about this information, please contact the person on this announcement BEFORE the closing date.
Step 6: Click on "Finish" after you have completed your application. Once you have submitted your application, you can check your status online through your Hiring Management or MY USAJOBS account. Your complete online application and any required supplemental documentation (e.g., SF-50, etc.) must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the closing date of the announcement. It is your responsibility to ensure that all documents are received on time and that the materials are readable. Failure to do so will result in your application being excluded from consideration for this announcement.
If you are experiencing any technical difficulty with the online process, you MUST CONTACT THE POINT OF CONTACT FOR THIS ANNOUNCEMENT BEFORE THE CLOSING DATE. For all technical issues please contact jobhelp@loc.gov, no later than 4:30pm EST of the Closing Date. REQUESTS FOR EXTENSIONS WILL NOT BE GRANTED.
Next steps
Please review our evaluation process under Evaluation. You may check the status of your application for this position at any time by logging onto the USAJOBS "My USAJOBS" tab and clicking on "My Applications." You will receive final notification via e-mail when the vacancy has been filled.
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